Doug Pullen: El Paso Times features section looking for a few good writers

Earlier this year, my colleague, copy editor Sylvia Ulloa, and I were tasked with coordinating the features section of the El Paso Times, which is primarily the daily Living section and Friday's Tiempo section.

It comes with a small budget with which we can pay freelance writers for their contributions.

It's not much money, but it's better than nothing, which is what we had before.

We're looking to expand the number of voices that contribute to the paper, its website, mobile and other digital versions.

Since I'm overseeing the arts and entertainment side of the operation (Sylvia's overseeing health, food and home/garden coverage), it's my hope that I can add a few contributors who can help with reviews of concerts, plays, art exhibits and other A&E events.

I'm not looking for cheerleaders, nor am I looking for cynics. I'm looking for people who can write clearly and analytically about the events they review, be they concerts at Tricky Falls, the Coliseum or the Plaza Theatre, a play at UTEP or El Paso Playhouse, an exhibit at the El Paso Museum of Art, the Rubin Center for the Visual Arts or the Hal Marcus Gallery.

This isn't a chance to pump up or tear down your favorite band or arts group. It's a chance to rise above that and write honestly about the event you just saw.

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The reviewer's job is to let the reader know if an event was any good or not -- and why you think that way. The reviewer should write knowledgeably, with some depth, about an event or exhibit. He or she should be able to provide some context and let the reader know if it was good, great, transcendent, bad, awful or somewhere in between, preferably in language that is descriptive yet understandable, without too much "inside baseball" jargon.

It's a challenge. It's work. It's not as easy as it looks. But if you're up to it, we're interested.

I'd really like to find people who can write insightfully about the kinds of events that are popular here. In the music world, that includes all kinds of Latin music (why the Times never developed a Latin music writer, I don't know), electronic dance music, metal and indie rock. I also need someone who has a good working knowledge of classical music and opera, who can review those events.

We also need help with theater and dance. We have one theater reviewer, C.B. Goldsmith, but we could use another.

A couple people who can review visual art would be a big help. There's a lot of interesting work going on here, and coming through town, and a paper our size should be reviewing it on a regular basis. Know someone who can do that? Send them my way.

I can also use some help with other kinds of arts and entertainment coverage, specifically event previews, which usually run in the Tiempo and on our Sunday arts page, plus stories about local trends and profiles of music makers, visual artists, actors, filmmakers, dancers of all stripes in our growing community.

I'm in a position to be aware of a lot of these things, and write about many of them, but I'm just one guy. I don't want to be a solo writing act. I want to be part of a team.

Sylvia's also interested in recruiting some people who can review restaurants and not be afraid say when something's good or bad. We're thinking about adding a dining column. She can use help with food, health, home and garden and other stories.

This is a great way for aspiring young writers and experienced folks with specific areas of expertise to add to that mix of voices.

If you have the interest and the ability, please reach out to us.

The best way to do that is by email.

Send us your name, contact info, a resume (if you've got it), some samples of your writing and a few words about what you're interested in writing about.

You can reach Sylvia at sulloa@elpasotimes.com, or by phone at 546-6130.

My contact information is listed in the tag below.

Doug Pullen may be reached at dpullen@elpasotimes.com; 546-6397. Read Pullen My Blog at elpasotimes.com/blogs. Follow him on Twitter @dougpullen and Facebook at facebook.com/dougpulleneptimes